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Welsh Air Service

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Welsh Air Service was the world's first regular passenger helicopter service. The service was started on 1 June 1950 by British European Airways and operated between Cardiff, Wrexham and Liverpool.[1]

Flying from the original Cardiff airport, on the shores of Pengam Moor near Splott the Sikorsky S51 helicopters called at Plas Coch in Wrexham and reached Speke airport in Liverpool within two hours.

The service operated from Monday to Friday and carried up to six passengers. However, passenger numbers were too low to make the service economic and it was terminated in 1951.

Timetable

[edit]
South-North North-South
Cardiff (Pengam) 09:15 Liverpool (Speke) 13:45
Wrexham (Plas Coch) 10:45 Wrexham (Plas Coch) 14:10
Wrexham (Plas Coch) 10:50 Wrexham (Plas Coch) 14:15
Liverpool (Speke) 11:15 Cardiff (Pengam) 14:45

Fares

[edit]
Route Single Return
Cardiff - Wrexham £3 £5
Cardiff - Liverpool £3 10s £5 10s
Wrexham - Liverpool 15s £1

References

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  1. ^ Woodley, Charles (2006). The history of British European Airways. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Aviation. p. 109. ISBN 9781844151868.
  • Welsh Air Service Timetable 1950
  • History of Cambrian Airways, T. G. Staddon, 197